My client's WD7500AAKS took a topple off a desk while it was sitting exposed in half of a Startech.com InfoSafe USB 2.0 Mobile SATA Drive Enclosure. Now, it powers on but if plugged into the enclosure, Windows does not detect it, and if plugged into the PC directly, POST halts on startup with a "SATA 4 DRIVE ERROR" message (may not be quoting exactly). The drive is not properly detected by the BIOS in this case. Additionally, the HDD is clicking.

I was preparing to send off to DriveSavers and billing for it but am thinking instead about acquiring specialized tools like SalvationData's instead and getting into the professional data recovery business. I've been using tools like R-Studio for years. However, I don't have terribly steady hands.

Thoughts about what's going on? I am concerned about head crash and the need to swap platters. Do you think this likely?

Cheers,
Stiletto